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Jade Stadium's credibility as a top-class cricket venue has suffered again because of another pitch fiasco.

Despite perfect weather, yesterday's Shell Trophy match between Canterbury and Central Districts was delayed 90 minutes.

Frustrated players, annoyed officials, and a smattering of bewildered spectators waited yesterday while wet areas surrounding the portable pitch dried sufficiently for the game to start at noon.

It is the inaugural first-class match to be played on a portable pitch in this country -- and the game is being viewed by International Cricket Council representatives.

An exasperated Canterbury player summed up the situation by asking: ``What's going on here? It hasn't rained for four months and it's too wet to play!''

``They watered it yesterday afternoon, the covers were put on, and its made the surrounds soft,'' said Canterbury Cricket Association executive director Tony Murdoch.

``We understand the covers were removed at 6.50am but the question may need to be asked when they were put on, given that it was a spectacularly fine and hot day yesterday.''

Jade Stadium general manager Campbell Prentice denied the wicket block was over-watered, and backed his ground staff's explanation that overnight sweating under the covers caused the problem.

``We are watering the block as much as we can to get the grass to grow. It's a double-edged sword,'' said Prentice.

He denied rugby's intrusion into the traditional cricket season was a factor, saying ``we are more worried about next week's cricket (one-day international) and how we present the pitch than we are about the rugby''.

The Canterbury Crusaders play The Chiefs in the opening game of the Super 12 rugby tournament at the park on February 26.

The uneasy relationship between the stadium's administrators and their summer tenant resurfaced, with Murdoch commenting that ``long established practices of cricket are not being observed in respect to pitch covering''.

Last season, a Shell Cup game did not start at the ground because of pitch problems after the covers were left off.

Canterbury Cricket and Jade Stadium Ltd also remain at loggerheads over the size of the wicket block. Where it once contained seven pitches, there are now only three, plus the portable pitch.

``There are not enough pitches. I feel sorry for the groundsman. The size of the block could in time have repercussions for the running of international games at this stadium,'' said Murdoch.

Prentice replied the cricket association's claim was ``understood'', but added ``it's not going to change.''

``Canterbury cricket's big worry is the ground might be compromised as an international venue,'' said Murdoch.

``Climatically and soil-wise, this is probably still the best pitch in New Zealand. But matters which are incidental to making sure everything works are sometimes not carried out,'' he said.

Jade Stadium's remaining cricket fixtures this season are next week's women's and men's one-day internationals against South Africa, and the second test in mid-March.